Thermostatic circuit closer and breaker



April 6,1926,

G. WHITE THERMOSTTIC CIRCUIT CLOSER AND BREAKEB Filed Jan. 10, 1925Patented Apr. 6, 1925.

UNITED STATES GAEEE'rT WHITE, Vor CHAPEL HILL, TENNESSEE.

THERMOSTATIC CIRCUIT rCLOSER AND BREAKER.

Application filed. January To aZZ'iUzom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, GARRETT 7T-LITE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chapel Hill, in the county of Marshall and State ofTennessee, `"have invented certain new and useful Improvements inThermostatic Circuit Closers and'- Breakers, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention appertains to a thermostatically controlledcircuit maker and breaker, and has for its principal object to provide adevice of this nature, with an extremely simple and'ecientstructure, onewhich is reliable in operation, inexpensive to manufacture, strong,durable, compact, easy to handle, not liable 'to readily get outv oforder, and otherwise welladapted to the purpose for which it isdesigned.

'With the above and numerous other 0bjects in view,.as will appear asthe description proceeds, the invention resides in such novel featuresof construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as willbe hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the device embodying the features of myinvention, and

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section therethrough.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference charactersrefer to like parts throughout the several views, it will be seen that 1designates a panel, which is adapted to be located in a convenientposition, for supporting my device. This panel is constructed ofinsulating material, such as porcelain or the like, and at the bottoniend thereof, a binding post 2 is mounted, supported by means of screw 3.A similar binding post 4 is mounted at the top thereof, supported byanother screw 3. These binding posts 2 and 4 are provided with the usualbinding screws 5. A bracket indir cated generally by the letter 'B isattached to the panel 1 by means of a bolt 6 and the lower screw 3. Thisbracket B includes a plate 7, having spring lingers 8 at its top andspring lingers 9 at its bottom, for

grasping a metal tube "10. The bottom portion of this tube is filledwith suitable material, such as vplaster Paris, bakelite or the like,indicated at 11, which will tend to absorb moisture from the mercury.Insulating material 13 is positioned in the tube 1U,

10, 1925. Serial No. 1,656.

at its upper end, leaving a space between it and the vother material 11,so as to form a compartment 14. The material 13 is providedv 'with avertically extending opening' A funnel" relation to the funnel shapedmember 1 6.'

lIn makingthe device, a desired amount. of-

mercury is placed in the compartment 14, and a rubber cap or the like20, is dis-- posed on the funnel shaped member 16, as is shown in Figure1, for preventing spilling of the mercury, as the tube 10 is being putin place in the bracket B and being packed, shipped, etc.` Suitablewires of a circuit are, of course, attached tothe binding posts 2 and 4,and the circuit will be closed or opened, depending upon the temperatureof the place at which this device is located.

By way of example, it will be noted that a predetermined amount ofmercury has been inserted in the compartment 14, theV cap 20 having beenremoved and screw 18 engaged with member 16', that as the temperaturerises, the mercury will rise into the opening 15 and into the funnel 16.

When this device is to be used as a circuit closer for giving an alarm,it will be noted that the mercury in the compartment 14 will rise in thecolumn 15 and the circuit will be closed, as soon as this mercurytouches the lower end of the funnel shaped contact member 16. closedthrough the binding post 2, tube 10, the mercury, the funnel shapedmember 16,v the screw 18, the bracket 17, and the binding post 4. Thenthe device is to be used as a circuit breaker for giving an alarm, themercury is in contact with the funnel shaped contact member 16', andwhen the temperature lowers, the column of mercury will lower and recedefrom engagement with the contact 16. This, of course, breaks thecircuit. Ihe proper amount of mercury is installed in the compartment14, during the manufacture of the device, depending upon the purpose forwhich it is to be used. Be-

The circuit will be. Y

fore the device is placed in use, it'is Well to jar the saine, -in orderto insure the proper location of the mercury, and then the rubber cap Eis removed, and the screw 1 8 gaged direct-ly with the funnel shapedcoriposes.

It will be apparent from the above that the .device is very simple, yeteicient, and that there is nothing which is lliable to readily get outof order. Although l have described tlie invention :with a certaindegree of particularity, itis to be understood that numerous changesinthe detailsof construetion, in the materials, and in the. combina--'tionaiid arrangement ot lpar-ts'may be ref sorted to, lWithoutdeparting from the spirit or scopexof the i-nventon, as hereinafterclaimed, or sacrificing Vany of its advantages.

In a device of the class described, a panel Vof insulating material, abracket on the panel provided With lspring fingers, a binding postsecuring the yloWer'c-:iid of the bracket to the panel, a tubeengageable by the spring fingers and having its lower end resting on thebinding post, insulating material closing the bottom-of the tube,insulating material in the top of the tube spaced from thefirstmentionedmaterial to Vform a compartment, said second mentionedinsulating material provided with a restricted passage leading from thecompartment a-nd terminating at its upper end in a funnel-,shapedrecess, a tunnel .of electricity conducting material Seated-in thenecesi@ and 'Projecting Slightly above the up .er end 0 1? the tulle, aSeparate binding post 0n the Panel above the uriner end of the tube, vabracket depending. from the .second .binding Pest, Screw in the Se@-,ond bracket and adjustable toward and awa-y rfrom the funnel Intestimony whereof l -aiivx my signature.

` :GAR-BETTY WHITE-

